Society and Psychicism

Laubach (2004) studied the social influence of Psychism. His hypothesis was that other social influences in religious practices that were privately held would result in higher frequencies of psychism. In reverse, higher frequencies of psychism would result in higher degrees of religious engagement. Finally, Psychism would have no effect on the beliefs that reflect religious identity.

Data was pulled from the 1988 General Social Survey, which is a large national survey of American noninstitutionalized adults that has been collected since 1972 used to measure mysticism. This scale measured ESP Extrasensory Perception, Spirit contact, Clairvoyance, and Mystical Experience. A subset scale of the 1988 survey included a module on religious beliefs and practices.

Results indicated that there was no significant difference between religious identity and psychism. Those who engaged in private religious practices did have a higher degree in psychism. The hypothesis in reverse was not supported. Higher degrees of psychism did not result in higher frequencies in religious involvement.

Reference:

Laubach, M. (2004). The Social Effects of Psychism: Spiritual Experience and the Construction of Privatized Religion. Sociology of Religion 65(3). 239-263.